Communication chart



June 12, 1934. c, R HQDGE 1,962,687

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{murmur Patented June 12 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an instruction chart designed primarily for use as a means of communicating between two or more persons one of whom is being instructed in the signs used by -the deaf and dumb.

It is an object of the invention to provide a chart on which are displayed not only the letters of the alphabet and other characters but also illustrations of the corresponding signs to be made with the hands during conversation by means of signs.

It is also advantageous if used by a person unacquainted with the sign language and who is desirous of translating the signs to the corresponding letters or other characters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chart which can be formed into a compact bundle and carried readily in the pocket or in a v handbag.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts herein- N after more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in perspective showing the chart opened for use, one of the tabs being shown raised out of normal position and tabs being removed from over the punctuation marks of the chart.

Figure 2 is a back view of the chart.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

' Figure 4 is a perspective view of the chart when rolled up for convenience in carrying or storing it.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a strip of flexible material such as leather, fabric or the like adapted to be folded along a center line as indicated at 2 so as to provide a body portion 3 and a cover flap 4. A looped strip of material 5 can be attached to the free end portion of flap 4 to provide a ban dle and a strap 6 can be attached to the free end of the body 3 to provide a tie device. Thus by folding the strip 1 along the line 2 and then rolling it into a bundle as shown in Figure 4 the strap 6 can be fastened around the bundle and the loop 5 be used as a handle.

Arranged across the back of the base 3 adjacent to the fold 2 is a transverse supporting strap 7 while secured to the opposite or front face at the fold 2 are strips 8 of flexible material forming keepers adapted to receive and hold a short pointer 9 which can be connected to strip 1 by a cord 10 or the like.

Directions for using the chart may be printed or otherwise displayed on-the base 3 as shown generally at 11 and between these directions and the free end of the base are rows of spaces formed by crossed lines 12 suitably displayed on the base.

Displayed in each of the spaces 13 defined by the lines 12 is a letter or other character. It is preferred to arrange the letters of the alphabet in these spaces, they being arranged in proper sequence in the several rows and being followed by double letters or other characters. Located at the end of the last letter of the alphabet is a colored tab 14 on which can be printed the words Word ended or any other statement or indication found desirable in the use of the chart.

Mounted on each of the spaces 13 is a flexible tab 15 which is secured along its upper edge while its other edges are left free so that the tab can be raised readily from the surface of the chart. Each tab normally conceals the character appearing in the space in which it is mounted but displayed on the front or normally exposed face of the tab is a character corresponding with the one on the chart which is normally concealed by the tab. In addition to the foregoing there is displayed on the under surface of the tab an illustration 16 of the hand sign commonly used to indicate the particular character appearing on the tab and in the space 13 in which the tab is located.

The hand signs are normally concealed so that only the letters or other characters on the outer surfaces of the tabs can be seen.

It is to be understood that any tabs used over the punctuation marks will have displayed upon the backs thereof any signs that might be used for designating those marks.

It is not designed to place any signs under those tabscontaining the double letters.

In practice the chart is unrolled and is held on the palm of a hand, the fingers being extended between the strip 1 and strap 7. The other 105 hand is then used for holding the pointer 9 which is employed for designating different tabs in proper rotation and for lifting any selected tab from its normal position. For example the pointer can be placed on the tab covering the GIL letter A in its space 13. The person observing the chart can then make the sign which in his opinion correctly represents that particular letter. If the sign made is incorrect, the tab can be lifted by means of the pointer so as to display the illustration 16 of the indicated letter so that correction can be made. Likewise in using the chart for transmitting messages through signs the user can lift the tabof a s6.- lected letter, and then make the sign thus ex posed. When a word is completed the tab 14 is pointed out by the user.

Obviously difierent kinds of characters can be;

used on the chart. a

An important feature is found in the'fact that the letter in the covered space 13 is? exposed arate flexible tabs normally overlying the respective spaces, there being a character displayed in each space, each character having a duplicate upon the normally exposed surface of the tab in the same space therewith and an illustration upon the normally concealed face of the tab adapted to indicate the hand sign to be used to express the character on the tab, said illustration and the corresponding characten in the space being exposed whenztheitab is shifted from its overlying position.

2. A communication chart including a flexible strip having separate character containing spaces on one surface thereof, means on the opposed surface of a strip for engaging the hand of,the.user to hold the strip to the hand, a series of flexible tabs connected to the strip and normallyconcealingthe characters in the respective spaces, each tab having a normally exposed surface bearing a character corresponding with the character in the concealed space thereunderand having an illustration on itsnormally concealed surface of thehand sign to; be made in express: ing the character on said tab, said hand sign and the character in the adjacent, space being both exposed by the lifting of the flap relative to the strip.

CHARLIE R; HODGE, 

